of these two is the richer-the man who trusts in the living God, or the man who trusts in uncertain riches? Of course, we do not compare their command of the means of luxurious living and sensual enjoyment, for these the believer does not want and cannot use; we compare their security for the supply of all true wants, in all possible circumstances of life.

The worldly man flatters himself that he has goods laid up for many years. Now, leaving out of view the uncertainty of the life for which he supposes he has made provision, the cares and anxieties which torment him, and the unsatisfied craving which still cries Give, sufficiently attest the character of his security. Nor is his anxiety unreasonable, since his trust is in uncertain riches. He cannot conceal from himself their true character. They take to themselves wings and fly away, and fail him very often just when he most needs them-when sickness or the infirmities of age disqualify him for every effort to repair the loss. Can he lie down upon a death-bed at ease about the wife he is about to leave a widow, or the children he is about to leave orphans? Who will watch over his wealth as he has done? If it be squandered or fraudulently snatched from those who are so little qualified to protect their rights, what remains for them? And how many probabilities are there that what he has designed as a provision for his children will prove their curse and ruin? All this is on the supposition that the man who has made it the business of his life to lay up treasure for himself has been successful, but it must not be forgotten that the successful are the few out of the many. And how miserable the condition of the multitude who, with no other trust, utterly fail in their object!

Contrast with this the position of the child of God who, with a confidence in a heavenly Father's care of him and his, uses the means of which he is the steward in the service

of his Lord, in doing good to all men as he has opportunity, especially to them that are of the household of faith. No reverse can reach the resources on which he relies. Careful for nothing, in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, he makes his requests known unto God; and, as a necessary consequence, the peace of God which passeth all understanding keeps his heart and mind through Christ Jesus. In the exercise of that trust dissatisfaction with his lot is impossible. In whatsoever state he is, he must therewith be content, because he knows that it is the will of God concerning him, and he would not, if he could, have it otherwise in a single particular. As to all possible necessities, it is enough for him to remember the assurances of the Lord. "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." The promises of God in this matter are as ample as they are sure. But, then, in order to enjoy their fulfilment, there must be an actual confidence in them; and in that confidence we must be going forward in the path which He marks out for us, devoted to his business, seeking to glorify His name, living for the salvation of souls and the good of His Church, with the same mind in us which was also in Christ Jesus, and seeking conformity to His will in all things. Then the promise of God is absolute and unqualified. He will not suffer His name to be dishonored by leaving the wants of His servants unsupplied. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Those whose opportunities of observation have been the largest may safely be appealed to, that they never saw a child of God who lived on this plan to whom this promise was not a sufficient provision in sickness and in health, and to whom it was not the best legacy to leave to fatherless children.

No consideration can be better calculated to promote an

unquestioning trust in the living God, and to repress every thought of covetousness, than the consideration suggested by the Lord in the conclusion of His discourse. We should be like servants waiting for their Lord. There can be no more palpable inconsistency than for a man to be professedly waiting for the Son of God from heaven, and yet to be cumbered with earthly care or striving to lay up treasure on earth. He may profess what he pleases, but he is saying in his heart: "My Lord delayeth His coming." The world's scorn is merited when it is heaped upon the hypocrite who is saying, "Come, Lord Jesus," and yet is vieing with the most worldly in the pursuit of wealth, or honor, or worldly gain in any form. Brethren, in that blessed hope, we ought to show that there is a difference between us and those whose hopes are bounded by the grave; between us, also, and those who think that this poor world has a long career of improvement and prosperity to run. What is all the world to a man who is expecting Christ to come? What has he to fear of to-morrow who thinks that ere then we may be with the Lord?

CHOIR SINGING.

THE following lines were written by Rowland Hill, on the occasion of his preaching in a church in England where he was pained by the character of the persons who formed the choir. It is needless to say that they are not reprinted here for any poetical beauty in the composition:

"A HINT TO ALL GALLERY SINGERS.

"Wherever the cap fits, let them wear it.'

"In solemn ranks, behold, they stand,
Selected as a choral band,

While o'er their tuneful notes they glide,

Only to gratify their pride.

But how impossible to sing

The praise of our most Holy King,
Till hearts are turned by grace divine
To celebrate such love as Thine.
And which of all the choir can say,
We've lips to praise, or hearts to pray?
But how can praise or prayer be found
Where sin and wickedness abound?
And how disgraced the cause of God
While such profane Christ's cleansing blood,
That bids all hateful sin depart,

When grace divine renews the heart?

What strange hypocrisy and guile

Must that black sinner's heart defile

Who imitates an angel's song

With such a heart and such a tongue!
And, oh! what scandal and offence

Proceed to God's dear cause from thence,
While such with hearts and lips profane
Pretend to celebrate His name.

Let silence seize that lying tongue
That can presume to lift its song
Before that great heart-searching God,
Whose awful sin-avenging rod
Might send the sinner down to dwell
Amid the darksome shades of hell.
Great God! in mercy yet impart

Thy powerful grace to change the heart,
And make such sinners meet to shine

Where angels chant their songs divine."

What would churches think of a proposal to hire professional elocutionists to perform the prayers of our worshipping assemblies, or to engage a company of actors to celebrate the Lord's Supper for the sake of the grace and impressiveness of the manner in which they might render that solemnity? It is only custom that reconciles men to the parallel enormity of the musical performance that is too often substituted for the praises of God by His people.